Air bag module

Abstract

An air bag module for installation in a vehicle includes a module retainer mounted to the vehicle and including a single rod bent to form the module retainer. An air bag is operatively connected to the rod and an inflator is captured by the rod and held in position relative to the vehicle by the rod.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. An air bag module in a vehicle comprising: a module retainer comprising a single rod bent to form the module retainer, the rod including integral, axially spaced apart first and second end loop segments, the rod including at least one integral elongated rod portion extending axially between the first and second end loop segments and having two ends, one end connected to the first end loop segment and the other end connected to the second end loop segment, the rod mounted to the vehicle;   an air bag operatively connected to the rod; and   an inflator captured within the first and second end loop segments of the rod and held in position relative to the vehicle by the rod, the inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag.   
     
     
       2. The air bag module of claim 1 wherein the at least one integral elongated rod portion includes two parallel spaced apart elongated rod portions each being fastened to the vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The air bag module as in claim 1 wherein the elongated rod portion is generally perpendicular to the first and second end loop segments. 
     
     
       4. The air bag module as in claim 1 wherein the at least one integral elongated rod portion includes two parallel spaced apart elongated rod portions and wherein each of the elongated rod portions is fastened to the vehicle. 
     
     
       5. The air bag module as in claim 1 wherein the inflator includes an inflator orientation lug and wherein the rod has two rod ends, one of the rod ends being perpendicular to the elongated rod portion and engaging the orientation lug of the inflator. 
     
     
       6. The air bag module as in claim 1 wherein the rod and the inflator are located substantially inside the air bag. 
     
     
       7. The air bag module as in claim 1 wherein the air bag includes at least one hem loop, the rod is captured substantially within the hem loop, and the inflator is located inside the air bag. 
     
     
       8. An air bag module for installation in an air bag housing having a housing opening, the air bag module comprising: a module retainer comprising a single rod bent to form the module retainer, the rod including integral, axially spaced apart first and second end loop segments, the rod including at least one integral, elongated rod portion extending axially between the first and second end loop segments and having two ends, one end connected to the first end loop segment and the other end connected to the second end loop segment, the rod mounted to the housing and located within the housing;   an air bag operatively connected to the rod, the air bag for deployment through the housing opening; and   an inflator captured within the first and second end loop segments of the rod and held in position relative to the housing by the rod when the air bag module is installed in the housing, the inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag.   
     
     
       9. The air bag module of claim 8 wherein the at least one integral elongated rod portion includes two parallel spaced apart elongated rod portions each being fastened to the housing. 
     
     
       10. The air bag module of claim 8 further characterized by said first and second end loop segments being in parallel alignment with each other. 
     
     
       11. The air bag module of claim 8 wherein the rod includes a cross-section, and the air bag includes an open mouth portion, the air bag is folded to define at least one hem loop extending around the open mouth portion, the hem loop having a slitted opening sized larger than the cross-section of the rod for facile insertion of the rod into the hem loop via the slitted opening, and wherein the rod is contained substantially within the hem loop, whereby the air bag is operatively connected to the rod. 
     
     
       12. An air bag assembly including an air bag housing having a housing opening and an air bag module, the air bag module comprising: an air bag having a side opening;   a module retainer located within the air bag and comprising a single rod bent to form the module retainer, the rod including integral, axially spaced apart first and second end loop segments, the rod including at least one integral elongated rod portion extending axially between the first and second end loop segments and having two ends, one end connected to the first end loop segment and the other end connected to the second end loop segment, the rod mounted to the housing;   an inflator captured within the first and second end loop segments of the rod and held in position relative to the housing by the rod, the inflator located substantially within the air bag and engaging the air bag at the side opening to trap the air bag between the inflator and one of the first and second end loop segments of the rod; and   the inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag.   
     
     
       13. The air bag assembly of claim 12 further characterized by said first and second end loop segments being in parallel alignment with each other. 
     
     
       14. The air bag module of claim 12 wherein the at least one integral elongated rod portion includes two parallel spaced apart elongated rod portions, each elongated rod portion being fastened to the housing.